Two worlds, one family--

[mombastic]

[ It's strange to be in a world with not one set of memories from another world-- not two, but three, not that Otome can really discuss this with anyone. It's difficult enough, when she wakes up these days, and can't remember if she's in her own home, or her apartment. If she needs to call Fumi to check on preparations for the day, or...

But no. This is her world. And not a school day, so she's stuck trying to focus not on what she's missing or what she's lost, but on what lies ahead.

What that actually is, she doesn't know, but she's out and about today, and there's a strong breeze. Maybe today will be a good day for clearing her thoughts. ]

Comments

[discard]

Mm......I will.

[He can't really argue that. And...with Otome's hand where it is, not moving, he just...settles.

If she insists, then...

It's comfortable like this. And he's happy.]

[mombastic]

[ She does insist! Gently, but insistent nonetheless, because Leon is family, and the last thing she wants is to see her family ill and miserable. She'll wait until he's asleep to clean up some of this, but for now, she's just going to keep lightly stroking his hair.

And thankfully not humming because she's tone-deaf. ]

[discard]

[It won't take him long to pass out again, at least, especially with the comfort of her stroking his hair, and he'll sleep for a good few hours--which means when he drags himself awake again blearily, he drags the blanket with him around his shoulders when he goes out to see if she's in the living room. With his hair rumpled and the blanket around his shoulders and the general sleepy cast to his expression, he looks very much like a kid.

Thankfully, he still won't act like one--and equally thankfully, he sounds better when he speaks.]

Otome..? I seem to be feeling somewhat steadier. [HE'S STATUS REPORTING.]

[mombastic]

[ Otome will look up from her spot on the couch, where she's been working on lesson plans for the last hour or so. A quick once-over and she nods, both relieved and satisfied.

Good, he looks less ghoulish. ]

You're already looking a little better, too. Do you want to sit down?

[discard]

... Please.

[He'll at least be polite about it, settling himself quietly on the couch. After living with her for this long, he finally seems a little less tentative about remaining in the shared living spaces together.

Progress!]

Thank you.

[mombastic]

It's no trouble. You're still going to want to take it easy for the rest of the day, and you'll likely feel some achiness tomorrow.

[ From all the sleeping. ]

[discard]

[Hm.......]

... I'll be certain to rest. I would prefer to be able to return to my classes tomorrow, after all.

[SINGLE-MINDED as ever.]

[mombastic]

Ever so diligent... well, if you keep it up, you should be in good shape to go back to school tomorrow.

But keep in mind not to push yourself, even then.

[discard]

... I... yes, of course. I will be careful to not push myself and cause you more trouble.

[mombastic]

This isn't trouble. I'm actually happy to get a chance to spend a day with you.

[discard]

... But even so, your classes--

[This is still trouble!!!]

[mombastic]

-- will still have Fumi, so it's all right. I'm really not missing much at all.

[discard]

[... well.]

It was not you who would be missing the most. [YOUR STUDENTS THOUGH... but oh well, fuck 'em]

... Either way, I suppose this sounds ungrateful of me. I do not mean to complain.

[He's honestly...sincerely happy, he's just bad at expressing that.]

[mombastic]

Not at all! If anything, it sounds as though you think you might be inconveniencing me-- which is far from the case.

[ stretching a little now-- ]

When you're ill, the last thing you should be is alone.

[discard]

[... It's really...strange. It's nothing he's ever heard before, obviously. All he was ever told when he was sick was that he needed to get better as quickly as possible--that sickness was a weakness that was getting in the way of his ability to do what needed to be done.

That he was wasting everyone's time, being ill.

And that was when Hugo deigned to even speak with him when he was sick. More often than not, he was on his own. So this is....

He ducks his head, still a little wobbly from the illness, and pulls the blanket around his shoulders more tightly, swallowing tightly. He... doesn't really know how to handle this. When she says things like that so easily... it's so much that he's never experienced before, and it might be because he's still not entirely himself, with as sick as he still is, but he feels like his eyes are a little wet.]

[mombastic]

[ She's going to gently move her paperwork off of her lap, to the side, and extend an arm, offering a more comfortable resting spot. Whether he accepts or not... she'll keep an eye on him anyway. ]

Here... you'll probably still need to rest a little more.

[discard]

[...Oh....

For a long moment, nothing happens, though he's very much aware of that offer. There's just a long, hesitant pause--

And then he shuffles closer a little on the couch, shifting bit by bit, and slowly... he leans. He ends up curling up on the couch just short of her lap; it doesn't seem like he's bold enough to do anything else--but. Well.

He wanted to, for a moment there.]

[mombastic]

[ at least he's... resting. And Otome can still rest a hand on his head, so you know what, she's accomplishing something anyway. Sixteen-year-old boys probably don't spring for lap pillows, after all. ]

[discard]

[Probably true, even if he's starting to get really attached to mom. Either way, he doesn't actually shift away from her touch, and he'll doze off there, eyes sliding shut again. Overall, his breathing does sound better, and his temperature has gone down; seems he's just sleeping off the rest as best he's able, curled up in a little ball of blankets and messy hair.]

[mombastic]

[ Otome will let him sleep, keeping one hand on his hair as she gets back to working on her lessons. Like this, she can keep an eye on him if his breathing changes, or his fever returns with a vengeance. And most importantly, she can be right here if he needs her. ]

[discard]

[Neither of which will happen, thankfully; it seems like he really is out of the woods for the worst of the illness at this point. But...he does shift in his sleep despite himself, as if fever dreaming; there's a mildly discontent noise, until Leon shifts enough that his forehead gently bumps against Otome's leg.

He blearily opens an eye, looking around hastily--and his eyes fall on Otome.

And just like that, the tension drains away, and he curls up contentedly to go back to sleep--because with Otome there, he feels perfectly safe.]

[mombastic]

[ ... Her heart. Her heart. It's such a simple gesture, and coming from anyone else, that's all it would be-- cute, but simple. Coming from Leon, it's something unexpected and a very undeniable sign of trust, and that's what makes Otome's throat go tight.

Never is she going to regret bringing him home with her. Never is she going to regret working hard to integrate him into a world not his own. Not when she has him, and he's here and safe.

And maybe, she wonders, maybe he's happy. ]